From Player to Play-by-Play: A Different Kind of Basketball Dream
- Coco Chang
- Apr 19, 2025
- 8 min read
Updated: Apr 26, 2025
Profile Feature | Sports Column
By Coco Chang
“Basketball isn’t just about winning games—it’s about building character.”
He didn’t just play the game—he lived it, studied it, coached it, and spoke it. From Kinmen courts to championship sidelines and national broadcasts, Lin Po-Lun has never stopped evolving. His story is one of reinvention, responsibility, and relentless love for the sport.
A Quiet Victory: History in the Final Seconds
Scene One: The Final Buzzer
At the edge of the court, Coach Lin Po-Lun stands still, arms crossed, watching the final seconds tick down. The scoreboard reads 78–76. He’s not shouting. Just watching. When the buzzer rings, history is made—National Taiwan University wins its first UBA championship. The bench erupts, players leap, fans scream. Lin simply smiles.
The NTUA Sharks’ historic victory under Lin’s leadership—breaking records and rewriting legacy.
Born for the Game: Early Days in Kinmen
Roots in Kinmen: A Father, a Ball, a Start
“I'm Born for the Basketball”
Lin 's father named him after NBA legend Wilt Chamberlain believing his son was destined to be connected to basketball. "I always felt like the game chose me," Lin says.
He was introduced to the game at age 10 by his father, a local coach and mentor. Raised in Kinmen, Lin's early life was immersed in the sport—an identity built before he fully understood its reach.
After moving to Taiwan, he attended Wangxi Elementary School , where his height caught the attention of school coaches. That moment became the beginning of a lifelong journey in basketball.
Lin rose through the ranks early. After graduating from Yonghe Junior High School, he made a bold decision to set aside the conventional academic track and instead joined the basketball powerhouse Zaixing High School. Under the guidance of Coach Hsu Chin-Che, he became part of the "Zaixing Dynasty," and in his final year, led the team to its first national Division I championship, earning MVP honors.He later joined the professional CBA team Hung Kuo and served as an assistant coach for the national youth team. After earning his master’s degree in coaching at National Taiwan Sport University, he received his national A-level coaching license in 2010.
Coach Lin during his university years, playing with fire long before he stood courtside. “Born for the Basketball”
Building a Team, Defying the Odds
NTUA's Underdog Turnaround
In 2005, NTUA's basketball team had fallen to Division II, stripped of status and spirit. When Lin took the reins in 2010, he inherited a team with no expectations and no ego.
"Falling down is part of the game," he says. "But getting up again—that’s where greatness starts."
Lin had previously assisted Coach Lü Ching-Shan in securing two historic UBA championships for the university in 2011 and 2013. After fulfilling his military service, Lin faced a turning point: to stay on as an assistant coach with a professional team or take the reins at NTUA as head coach. Choosing the latter, he stepped into a program that needed rebuilding, driven by passion and vision.
In 2016, he took full command, tailoring training to the individual strengths of his players. One of them earned Finals MVP under his leadership. That year, the team took home another championship title. Lin's efforts turned NTUA from a nearly relegated second-division squad into a title-winning program.
He became the first coach in UBA history to lead a non-sports-major university to a championship, setting a new record and proving that strategic coaching and mentorship could beat structural disadvantage.
When a Coach Becomes a Leader
Lin’s coaching philosophy was shaped not only by wins but by losses. In 2016, Coach Lü—his mentor and the heart of NTUA's basketball program—passed away suddenly, leaving the team in a state of deep sorrow.
Lin had to step up not only as a tactician but as a mentor, a motivator, and a stabilizing presence. He took over every aspect of training—logistics, recruitment, and player development. Coach Lü had been the one to lead Lin outside his comfort zone, and his passing forced Lin to grow even further.
"Turning grief into growth is the hardest play you’ll ever run," Lin once said. The emotional weight lingered, but so did the responsibility. This loss forged a deeper resilience in him, one that guided him to become a more complete commander on and off the court.
“Loss teaches you to coach differently.” Lin reflecting on his late mentor, courtside.
Mic in Hand, Still in the Game🎤
Stepping Into the Booth
“From the court to the commentary booth, I’ve just followed the game wherever it needed me.”
At age 27, Lin became head coach at NTUA. By 32, he led the school to its first-ever UBA championship—an achievement that gained the attention of the national team, where he was invited to serve as assistant coach for the senior men's division. These successes, both collegiate and international, caught the eyes of television executives. Soon, Lin found himself stepping into a new arena: sports broadcasting.
"Breaking into the broadcast booth wasn't easy," Lin recalls.
"To get in, you need more than knowledge—you need proof you've earned your place."
To get in, you need more than knowledge—you need proof you've earned your place."
Broadcasting with Purpose
He began by calling games in the SBL, Taiwan’s professional league, where he quickly stood out for his composure, clarity, and deep tactical insight. During that same postseason, he was invited to co-host NBA broadcasts—an opportunity that tested his ability to switch between Mandarin and English while juggling the nuances of two basketball cultures.
"When I hold the mic, I see it as a chance to share the game with everyday fans," Lin says earnestly. "I believe that doing so can deepen their love for basketball in a more lasting and meaningful way."
He makes a point to distinguish himself from casual fans or betting analysts. "I'm not a fan, and I'm not a sports lottery pundit," he adds. "So I don’t try to predict winners—that’s not what I’m here to do."
"I'm not here to predict scores," he says. "I'm here to explain why things happen."
Mentorship and Method
One of his earliest mentors in broadcasting was Coach Ben Banda, then head coach of SBL's four-time championship team, the Pauian Archiland basketball club. Banda had formerly served as a video analyst for the NBA's Orlando Magic. He encouraged Lin to adopt an NBA-style analytical approach—integrating technical terms into broadcasts to elevate clarity and enrich fan engagement. "That advice helped me understand how to bring the strategy to life for viewers," Lin reflects.
When asked how he navigates criticism or the pressure of calling games fairly, Lin emphasizes the importance of impartiality and framing. "When you're invited to commentate, you have to be fair. Bias turns one team into a backdrop. But if you stay neutral, both sides remain part of the story," he says. "Using tactical language helps too. Instead of saying who will win, I describe what might happen—A could lead to B, or it might swing the other way. That way, I don’t corner myself or mislead the audience."
A New Angle on the Game
Asked how his perspective has changed since his days as a player, Lin reflects on the unique clarity the commentator’s seat offers. “As players, we grow up idolizing athletes and trying to copy their moves—until we realize we may not have all the same physical gifts,” he says. “But as a commentator, I get to analyze those gifts and say, ‘This player can do this because he has the coordination, the footwork, the spatial awareness.’ It’s one of the most rewarding things—to validate talent with insight.”
Whether breaking down plays or breaking into new spaces, Lin has continued to bring his court-side insight into the broadcast booth—translating his years of experience into analysis that connects.
Can Taiwan Build a Basketball Culture?
Taiwan Basketball and Its Regional IdentityLin is outspoken about the challenges facing Taiwanese basketball: lack of regional loyalty, fragmented fanbases, and limited economic scale. He points to models like the NBA or Chinese CBA, where teams embody cities and cultural pride.
"You can't grow loyalty without geography," he says. "Home courts matter. So do hometown heroes."
He explains that unlike the U.S. and China, Taiwan's basketball ecosystem struggles with geographic identity. "In the NBA and CBA, every team belongs to a specific city. That creates natural rivalries—north vs. south, coast vs. inland. It builds pride and fan bases, and that builds market value," he says. "In Taiwan, that’s still hard to come by."
He notes that after Fubon Braves joined the league, they too realized the need for clearer geographic divisions. "Whatever you call it—north-south, regional rivalries, east-west—teams need territory. Only then can sports culture grow loyal fans, and only then can the business grow."
He also believes that the future of basketball in Taiwan depends on raising the audience’s basketball literacy. "If viewers understand more about the game—if they can learn while watching—that makes watching more enjoyable and helps them stick around longer," he says. Lin holds firmly to this belief, and it’s one of the reasons his style of commentary has earned the trust and affection of so many fans.
Giving Back: The Legacy Beyond the Court
Beyond the Game: Philosophy, Mentorship, and Meaning
For Lin, basketball is never just about the ball. It’s about discipline, empathy, and growth. Beyond his role as a coach, Lin has also contributed to athlete development through initiatives like the "Warrior Trials," a competitive program he has participated in three times. It offers aspiring players the closest experience to a professional training regimen.
He enjoys dissecting offensive strategy and helping young athletes understand the tactical side of basketball. His belief is that sharing knowledge isn't just about improving the game—it's about elevating people.
When asked what advice he would give to young Taiwanese players chasing their basketball dreams, Lin points to Jeremy Lin as a powerful example. "Jeremy proved that Asian athletes can compete at the highest level," he says. "But talented kids can’t box themselves in. Some should consider studying abroad in high school and pushing toward the NBA early."
Lin acknowledges that Taiwan’s basketball market is limited, but insists that the benefits of sport go far beyond pro aspirations. "Basketball builds teamwork, resilience, and character," he says. "Even if you don’t make it to the top, the process gives you tools for life."
He also emphasizes the importance of dual-track development. "Schools like NTUA and NCCU are starting to combine elite athletes with media and communication training. This helps players develop second skills—so they can chase their dreams and still have sustainable futures."
"I want to keep giving back," Lin says. "As long as I can teach or talk about basketball, I’ll keep going."
He advocates for developing athletes who can think, lead, and eventually give back—just as he did.
Off the court, Coach Lin is still a student of the game—soft-spoken, observant, and relentlessly curious.
Lin Po-Lun’s story isn’t just about wins and titles. It’s about reinvention, responsibility, and the many ways one can stay in the game—even after the buzzer sounds.
Because even when the jersey comes off, the game stays with you—just in a different form.
He never left the game. He simply changed the way he played it.
From guiding plays on the court to breaking them down in the booth, Lin Po-Lun continues to live the game, teach the game, and grow the game.
For Lin, basketball is not just a career—it’s a lifelong conversation.
Lin Po-Lun Profile
Name: Lin Po-Lun (林伯倫)
Age: 32
Hometown: Kinmen, Taiwan
Current Role: Head Coach, NTUA Sharks
Other Roles: Analyst for SBL & NBA broadcasts (CTS, VL Sports)
Achievements:
Led NTUA to its first-ever UBA championship
Youngest coach to win UBA with a non-sports-major university
Former Assistant Coach, Chinese Taipei National Tea
